Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search
File: 123096_sep96_decls2_0037.txt
Subject: MEDICAL OPERATIONS DURING OPERATION DESERT STORM 9 NOV 91
Unit: VAR. BUMED
Parent Organization: BUMED
Box ID: BX303801
Folder Title: VARIOUS BUMED DOCUMENTS FOLDER 6
Document Number: 2
Folder Seq #: 10
Early attempts to establish @ communications @ between the hospital
ships and the NEDSOM produced uncertain and cumbersome results. In late
January, COMUSARCENT was dnvcted to mstall T on U99S Comfort and
USMS Mercy and the NEDSOM was d to install international maritime satel-
hte AT) capability. T installation m USNS Comfort in late
February gave the ship access to the same database as the NEDSOK (TAMNNS was
never installed aboard USNS Mercy.) TAMMIS was designed to allow land-based
medical units to automatically reorder AMAL supplies from the MEDSOM. Iaclang a
@ link between T afloat and T ashore, USNS Comfort taxed orders
to the NEDSOM via AT.
In early January, each hospital ship submitted a 15-day critical resupply AMAL
to be pre-staged in Bahrain until the onset of the ground war. The M:EDSOM con-
curred in this decision, noting that the predicted volume of requisitions would over-
whelm the system. USNS Comfort submitted their requisitions through , while
USGS Mercy submitted their orders through 47th MEDSOM at the same time. By
8 February, USNS Mercy had received at least partial fills on 31 percent of its orders
from MEDSOM, while USKS Comfort had received between 80 to 85 percent of its
material from . As a result of this difference, COMNAVLOGSUPPOR received
authority to establish an alternative supply chain through NSC NorfoUL
The hospital ships required frequent lifts of medical supplies. The Blackhawks
e configured and staffed for patient evacua-
tiorl rather than resupply. Aviation assets assigned to the hospital ship area of
operations but not organic to the ships provided these services. The ability to
resupply the ships with medical supplies stored by COMNAVLOGSUPFOR was
never critically tested by mass casualties. Even so, the ships experienced delays of
several days at a time waiting for helicopter lift of opportunity.
Resupply of the CRTSs also occurs over a 30-clay cycle with initial resupp'--Y
pushed to the platforms and subsequent 30-day resupply on a pull system. Current
doctrine calls for the CRTSs to be resupplied using the standard Navy supply
system. The ships submit requisitions for medical and dental supplies to combat
stores ships (AFSS) whose personnel fill the requisition from AFS stock and re-
plenish the ships while under way. Items not in AFS stock are obtained from an
NSC and delivered to AFSS.
The system for resupplying the CRTSs with class VIII supplies did not work
well even without the stress of an amphibious assault. The level of class VIE
stockage on the AFS was insufficient to meet theater requirements. Transportation
-28-
Document Page: First | Prev | Next | All | Image | This Release | Search
Document 57 f:/Week-37/BX303801/VARIOUS BUMED DOCUMENTS FOLDER 6/medical operations during operation desert storm:1217961126393
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-37
Box ID = BX303801
Unit = VAR. BUMED
Parent Organization = BUMED
Folder Title = VARIOUS BUMED DOCUMENTS FOLDER 6
Folder Seq # = 10
Subject = MEDICAL OPERATIONS DURING OPERATION DESERT STORM
Document Seq # = 2
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 17-DEC-1996